PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION. 9 



knowledge, resting on original research; and all unverified specula- 

 tions to be rejected. 



4. Each memoir presented to the Institution to be submitted for 

 examination to a commission of persons of reputation for learning in 

 the branch to which the memoir pertains ; and to be accepted for 

 publication only in case the report of this commission is favorable. 



5. The commission to be chosen by the officers of the Institution, 

 .nd the name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed, unless 

 a favorable decision is made. 



6. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the trans- 

 actions of literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to 

 all the colleges and principal libraries in this country. One part of 

 the remaining copies may be offered for sale, and the other carefully 

 preserved, to form complete sets of the work, to supply the demand 

 from new institutions. 



7 . An abstract, or popular account, of the contents of these memoirs 

 to be given to the public through the annual report of the Regents to 

 Congress. 



II. By appropriating a part of the income, annually, to special objects 

 of research, under the direction of suitable persons, 



1. The objects and the amount appropriated, to be recommended 

 by counsellors of the Institution. 



2. Appropriations in different years to different objects; so that in 

 course of time each branch of knowledge may receive a share. 



3. The results obtained from these appropriations to be published, 

 with the memoirs before mentioned, in the volumes of the Smith- 

 sonian Contributions to Knowledg.e. 



4. Examples of objects for which appropriations may be made. 

 (1.) System of extended meteorological observations for solving 



the problem of American storms. 



(2.) Explorations in descriptive natural history, and geological, 

 magnetical, and topographical surveys, to collect materials for the 

 formation of a Physical Atlas of the United States. 



(3.) Solution of experimental problems, such as a new determina- 

 tion of the weight of the earth, of the velocity of electricity, and of 

 light; chemical analyses of soils and plants; collection and publica- 

 tion of scientific facts accumulated in the offices of government. 



(4.) Institution of statistical inquiries with reference to physical, 

 moral, and political subjects. 



{5.) Historical researches, and accurate surveys of places cele- 

 brated in American history. 



(6.) Ethnological researches, particularly with reference to the 

 different races of men in North America ; also, explorations and ac- 

 curate surveys of the mounds and other remains of the ancient people 

 of our country. 



